Vacuum cleaner



N. A. THROOP YACUUM cmmsa Sept. 13,1921 i 6 ,518

. Filed Jan.l7, 1925 I 2 sheets-sheet 1 j INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS;

Patented se s s, 1927. A

UNITEDL-STATES PATENT oF FICE.

miwron A, 'IEBOOP, or cnroneo, rumors.

VACUUM Application filed January My present invention-relates to a vaciium cleaner and has more particular reference to a cleaner wherein a brush is employed to engage the surface being cleaned My invention has numerous objects and advantages among which is provided means that will automatically lift the nozzle from the engaged surface whenever the motor is left running and when not actually in use so that the suction will be ineffective on the floor, rug or carpet. I have provided means for adjusting the nozzle with respect to theshoes or runners have beencmpolyed in the nozzle the carpet or ru is usually sucked up against the same so t at a wavy surface extends from end to end of the nozzle. With my present structure the relation of the shoes and nozzle permits a transverse arching of the carpet in the mouth in parallel relation to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The brush I have employed is auto matically reversible and whenever it is reversed, which occurs at the end of each -reciprocation of the cleaner; the bristles or fiber or tufts of the brush will be rapidly moved past an element that cleans the same of loose threads and other matter that usually clog a brush in a cleaner. Theforegoing objects'are accomplished in a novel manner and with a structure that is dependable and sturd I prefer to carryout my invention in t e following manner, reference being made to the accompanying drawin that form a part of this specification;

I; the drawin (Fig. 1 is a si e elevation of my vacuum 0 eaner,

Figure 2, is a bottom plan thereof.

Fig. 3,is a front elevation with .a portion ofthe nozzle broken away to illustrate the brush. 4

Fig.4, is a fragmentary view showing the nozzle in. transverse section;

Fig. 5, is a similar view showing a modihad shoe construction.

: Fig. 6, is a perspective the shoe frame CLEANER. A

17, 1925. Serial m. 3,040.

and control devices, the casing or housing being in dotted lines. Y

The elongated casing 10 encloses the motor and hasqa cylindrical enlargement 11 in which the fan rotates which sucks the dirt through a nozzle 12 connected to said enlargement by a neck or throat 13. Rollers 14. support the rear of the structure centrally of the rear lower portion of the casing 10 and the forward portion is adjust-ably sup? ported on casters 15 disposed upon each side of the neck 13 and to the rear of the nozzle. These casters are mounted upon the lateral portions of L-shaped extensions 16 of a rocker shaft or rod 17 that is mounted adjacent its ends on the rearwardly extended 1 parallel arms 18 that are pivotally secured at their rear ends-t0 lugs 20 projecting from the fan-casing 11. At their forward ends the arms 18 are connected to a frame consisting of an elongated bar19that is positioned longitudinally in the nozzle 12 adjacent the rear wall of the latter and extending forwardly from this bar is a plurality of shoes 21 thatproject into the open- .ing of the nozzle. The casters 15 are ad j uste'd by rocking the shaft or rod 17 through the medium of a lever 22 that is fulcrumed at its outer end uponthe rear ofthe neck 13 and carries an adjusting screw 23 that engages the adjacent L-shaped extension 16 of said shaft rod. Adjacent its fulcrum I lever 22 has a lug or finger 50 that engages the upper edge of the adjacent frame arm 18' so that when the lever 22 is depressed or raised the shoes 21 on the end of the frame will move. respectively downwardly or up wardly and. thus adjust the relation of the. nozhle to the surface that is being cleaned. Intermediateits ends, lever 22 is provided with a spring controlled pawl 2% that coacts with ratchet teeth 25 on the edge of an index a late 26 on the side of the fan-casing, said index plate bearing numerals or other indicia to designate different heights the nozzle has been raised to accommodate the same to divers lengths of nap.

The brush I prefer to employ comprises an elongated spindle 27 rotatablymounted at its ends in the end walls of the nozzle and at itscenter of length is provided'with a hub 28 from which projects a plurality of bundles of bristles 29 so that a brush roller .30 is provided that is of sufiicient diameter to position its periphery in the plane of i as to sweep the latter.

Fig.. 1, but upon the handle bein the loweredge of the nozzle and engage with the surface being acted upon by the cleaner. Between this brush roller and the ends of the spindle l mount two opposite rows of radially disposed bristle bundles 31 upon each side of the roller which rows are posltioned slightly oblique to the vertical (F 1g. 5) so that they incline opposite to the forward direction of movement of the cleaner. Lugs 32 project from the ends of the spindle 27 and respectively engage stops 33 projecting from the interior of the nozzle. When the cleaner is pushed forward the brushroller 30 will rotate the spindle 27 anticloclrwise (Fig. 5) and when pulled backwards the rotation will be clockwise and will move the upper row of bristles down into engagement with the carpet or rug so During this move ment of trans-position the outer portions of the bristles will come into contact with and move past the ribs 3st on the nozzle wall (Fig. 4) or upon the frame of the shoes (Fig. 5) which causes them to shed the foreign matter, lint, etc., that may be adhering to them, which foreign matter will be sucked into the casing by the fan, thus automatically keeping the brush clean. By providing brushes in this manner that engage with the nap of the rug or carpet I prevent undulations of the carpet or rug in the mouth of the nozzle in the'spaces between the shoes.

In order to raise the nozzle when the cleaner is not in use, and especially when the operator has inadvertently permitted the motor to run, I have connected the handle 35 to the casing by a coiled spring 36 and I have extended the lower end of the handle beyond its pivot or fulcrum 37 and provided it with a cam 38 that is adapted to engage with the adjacent portion of the arm 18. When in use the handle is.in approximately the position shown in released by the operator, the spring will pu 1 it up to a vertical position causing the cam 38 to press down on arm 18. This action forces the shoes down onto the carpet or rug but raises the casing and consequently lifts the nozzle far enough above the surface of the carpet or rug to be ineffective on the nap. The tension .of the sprin 36 may be regulated by adjusting the bell-crank 39 that is provided on the handle and has one end of the spring connected to it, and said bell crank has a segmental slot 40 toc'eceive the shank of a clamp screw 41. In order to prevent a too rapid or accelerated motion of the handle 35 when raised in the manner above described I have provided a brake or dra in the form of a leaf-spring 42 mounted on t e handle in such position that will ongage the cam edge 43 of a so ental plate secured to the casing, an beyond this ecture have begun to raise the nozzle and the weight of the casing and structure will tend to maintain the handle upright.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a nozzle structure that-will permit the main body of the nozzle to be lifted or elevated slightly if desired to raise the brush off the surface being cleaned. In carrying out this construction I have cut away a small lon itudinal portion of the back wall of tie nozzle as at 47, and the bar 19 has an upwardly curved rear portion 48 in the form of a concavo-convex flange thatfits against and overlaps the lower portion of the nozzle wall above the cutaway part. At the end of the bar the respective shoes are widened in a vertical direction to provide suitable end walls 49 that are positioned adjacent or against the end walls of the nozzle. As the shoes 21 are in constant contact with the surface being operated on while the mouth of the nozzle may be either close to or above the said surface, it will be obvious that the concavo-convex flange will close the space between the rear wall of the nozzle and the surface andthe walls 49 will extend between the lower edge ofthe end walls of the nozzle and. the said surface. This restricts the suction area both immediately v below the nozzle mouth and also in the zone surrounding the lower edges of the nozzle and avoids a waste of the suction at places wheredt cannot be used.

While I have illustrated a preferred or typical embodiment of my invention, it-will be obvious'that changes and modifications of the structure may be made without departin from the principles disclosed. For examp e, the shoes may extend across the nozzle in Figures 5 and 6 and at their outer ends are curved upwardly where they are connected together by a stri 46. Such changes and modifications are ully contenr plated within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In a vacuum cleaner an elongated air nozzle, a frame fulcrumed upon a horizontal axis adjacent said nozzle and including a bar extended 'longitudinallywithin the nozzle, shoes extended downwardly from said bar into contact with the surface being cleaned, and means for adjusting said frame whereby said shoes raise or lower said nozzle with respect to the surface being cleaned.

2. In a vacuum ,cleaner an elongated 1 air nozzle, :1 frame pivoted upon a horizontal axis adjacent said nozzle and including a bar positioned within said nozzle, a plurality of shoes integral with said bar and exf tended downwar between the bar and said axis, rollers jour I projecting beyond the fulcrum of said ham nalled on said bearings, and means for raising and lowering said bar with relation to the nozzle.

In a vacuumcl eaner a casing, having an air nozzle extending therefrom, arms pivoted to the casing back of said nozzle, means extending from the forward ends of said arms to said nozzle, a handle pivotally mounted on said casing, and an extension dle and adapted to engage one of said arms when said handle is moved to a substantially we said frame adapted to be engaged adjacent its fulcrum by the lower end of said handle when the latter is moved to a substantially I vertical position, and means, for automatiucally moving the handle to a vertical posiextending therefrom, a frame said casing, a shaft mounted ad acent said tion when released-whereby to elevate said nozzle above the surface being cleaned.

5. In a vacuum cleaner a casing, an air.

nozzle extending therefrom, a handle fulcrumed on said casing, a contractible spring connected with said casing and handle for automatically returning the latter to a vertical position when released, means mounted upon the casing adjacent the nozzle and operated by the handle to elevateithe nozzle whenever the handle moves to vertical position, and a brake device operatively connected with said casing and handle for retarding the movement of said handle into a vertical position. v

6. In a vacuum cleaner a casing, a nozzle ivoted to nozzle in'said frame, rollers mounted on the ends of said shaft, a lever fulcrumed adjacent said nozzle and having a lateral element engageablelwith a portion of said frame, and walls extended upwardly from. said frame within said nozzle, whereby the walls of said frame provide an extension for the nozzle and the movement of said lever moves said frame to raise or lower the nozzle with respect to the surface being cleaned.

7. In a vacuum cleaner an elongated air nozzle having parallel front and rear walls,

a bar extending adjacent said nozzle and pivoted exterlorly of said nozzle upon an axis a wa l projecting from said bar and extendparallel' to the side walls of 'said'nozzle,

ing longitudinally within the nozzle contiguous the rear wall: thereof, and end walls projecting forwardly from said first-mentioned wall and coacting with the end walls of the nozzle, whereby when said nozzle is raised fromthe surface being cleaned said her will remain stationary upon the surface and said walls will (provide continuations 0f the nozzle walls an thereby close the space between the nozzle and said surface.

8. In a vacuum cleaner an elongated air nozzle, a movable brush mounted within said nozzle and having an edge adapted to engage the surface being cleaned, a bar extending lon itudinally of and movable verticall within said nozzle, shoes carried by said ar and extended below said nozzle, walls extending from said bar upwardly into the nozzle, a bead projecting inwardly from the nozzle wall and positioned longitudinally of the nozzle .m0uth-where it is adapted to be engaged by the brush when the latter is moved, and means for adjusting said bar whereby said shoes raise or lower said nozzle and brush with respect to the surface being cleaned and suspend said surface out of contact with the nozzle.

9, In a vacuum cleaner an elongated air nozzle, a brush having a horizontal s indle movably mounted longitudinally o and within" said nozzle and having an edge adapted to engage the surface being cleaned,- a bar reciprocable vertically adjacent said nozzle, shoes extending from said bar below said nozzle, walls projecting upwardly from said bar into the nozzle, means for adjusting said bar vertically whereby said shoes raise or lower said nozzle and brush-with respect to the surface being cleaned and suspend said surface out of contact with the nozzle, and a longitudinal rib projectin' from a longitudinal wall into the path 0 the edge of the brush to be engaged thereby, to remove foreign matter therefrom. s

10. In a vacuum cleaner an elongated air nozzle, an elongated brush journaled in said nozzle, an unbroken rib extending longitudinally of said nozzle above the mouth thereof and in the path of movement of the outer sweepling portion of the brush whereby during t e movement of said brush, the bristles thereof are separated to ermit the air to pass therethrough whereb the brush is cleared of foreign matter uring its move ment.

- Si ned at Ohicago,in the county of Cook NEWTON A. THROOP. 

